BP&R May 2013

British Plastics

and Rubber

bp&r

THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE FOR BRITAIN’S POLYMER PROCESSORS

MAy 2013

Focus on flame retardants

Using plastics for construction

Spotlight on hot runner systems

comment

bp&r BRITISH PLASTICS &RUBBER www.britishplastics.co.uk EDITORIAL Editor: Leanne Taylor T: +44(0)1244 680222 E: leanne@rapidnews.com Editorial assistant: mark wynne T: +44(0)1244 680222 E: mark.wynne@rapidnews.com

SALES Group Advertising Manager: Lisa Montgomery T: +44(0)1244 680222 E: lisa@rapidnews.com

ART

Using plastics

Production: PETER BARTLEY T: +44(0)1244 680222 E: peter@rapidnews.com

to build the future

T: +44(0)1244 680222 E: subscriptions@rapidnews.com

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At the recently held Chinaplas 2013 help the government meet its ambitious exhibition in Guangzhou, China, plastics targets for energy efficiency. You can as construction materials were given a read more about this in this issue’s focus central platform as one of the key on plastics in construction and themes of the event. infrastructure, starting on Displayed through a page 12.

“The UK plastics number of mediums, The construction industry industry continues to also has a part to play in including their use in a futuristic concept house, see the great many another one of our the versatility, focuses this benefits of employing editorial sustainability and month, namely flame plastics for use outstanding design retardants. According to a potential of plastics in recently published study in housing” construction was evident. by the Freedonia Group, Despite the latest figures worldwide demand for from the ONS making uneasy reading for flame retardant additives is forecast to the construction sector in general, the rise 5.4 percent yearly to 2.6 million UK plastics industry continues to see the metric tonnes in 2016, with construction great many benefits of employing markets to experience the fastest gains. plastics for use in construction, Construction and electrical and infrastructure and housing. One example electronic applications were the leading of this is the recent launch of a video by markets for flame retardants in 2011, the British Plastics Federation’s Vinyls each accounting for about one-fourth of Group highlighting the energy, financial overall demand. Further information can and carbon emissions savings be found in the feature, starting on achievable by choosing PVC products for page 29. housing applications such as windows, This issue we also take a look at the pipes and roofing. In addition, a UK latest developments in bioplastics, hot manufacturer of extruded polystyrene runners and blown film extrusion. insulation recently highlighted the role that the construction industry can play in Enjoy the issue. bringing forward innovations that could Leanne Taylor — Editor

Mark Blezard T: +44(0)1244 680222 E: mark@rapidnews.com British Plastics & Rubber is available on free subscription to readers qualifying under the publisher’s terms of control. Those outside the criteria may subscribe at the following annual rates: UK: £80 Europe and rest of the world: £115 British Plastics & Rubber is published monthly (10 times/year) by Rapid Plastics Media Ltd, Unit 2, Carlton House, Sandpiper Way, Chester Business Park, CH4 9QE T: +44(0)1244 680222 F: +44(01244 671074 © 2013 Rapid Plastics Media Ltd While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information contained within this publication is accurate the publisher accepts no liability for information published in error, or for views expressed. All rights for British Plastics & Rubber are reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

ISSN 0307-6164 Incorporating Polymer Age and Rubber and Plastics Age.

Associated organisations

THE BIG STORY GCR Group expands its range of

“environmentally friendly plastics solutions” GCR Group is the new company name for the producer of the Granic range of masterbatch. The company, formerly known as Gestora de Catalana de Residuos, started production in 2001 locally recycling PE and PP. The company had three distinct business areas – namely Granic, Ciclic and Irtion – and the name change brings them all under the GCR Group. Here, BP&R takes a closer look at the recent developments made by the Group.

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Granic is the largest producer of filler masterbatches in Europe.

With a compounding capacity of 110, 000mT the company will have doubled this to 220, 000mT by the end of the year. By the end of Q2 2013, Granic will start up its third compounding line with its own Irtion technology, with a fourth line further complimenting this in early 2014, expected to be at full capacity by the summer.

The plant is ideally situated locally to its polymer feed stock supplier (20km) and a large source of high quality plastic grade calcium carbonate (7km). In addition, the world’s largest talc mine is less than 200km away.

“Granic’s aim is to fulfil the needs of plastics converters regarding plastic reinforcement, oil-based polymer replacement, lowered environmental impact, carbon footprint reduction (through certification), reduced energy consumption and help converters achieve a reduction in the cost of their finished goods,” commented Victor Oliva, Commercial Director at GCR. The extremely pure, ultra-fine calcium carbonate that is used in production of Granic materials is surface treated and carries certification to that effect. This ensures that these products do not absorb moisture and therefore require no drying, as well as providing trouble-free processing. This surface treatment also significantly reduces abrasivity and gives a product that is no more abrasive than virgin HDPE. This is an important consideration when processing polymers with high levels of mineral fillers.

Probably one of the most important differences from Granic materials and others on the market is the grading of the calcium carbonate. Granic pays close attention to the quality and grade of calcium carbonate used in the production of its masterbatch.

Average particle size (top cut) distribution is absolutely paramount when producing a filler that will not compromise mechanical properties. In fact, many cases actively improve certain mechanical GCR Group is the new company name properties. for the producer of the Granic range Due to the of masterbatch differences

Granic products can be used in a variety of applications

Ciclic is the recycling arm of GCR’s business

documented, many producers who use fillers as an antiblock are often surprised to find that they can utilise the Granic material in much higher dosages than five percent. In fact, addition rates in film of up to 60 percent have been achieved successfully.

Production is highly automated with closed loop operation enabling the Granic products to be produced to the highest specification. Extensive post blending is carried out to ensure that each batch is completely consistent and product is regularly sampled to ensure that moisture, top cut, average particle size, loading, colour and specific gravity are all within tolerance.

Ciclic is the recycling arm of GCR business. Today Ciclic has a recycling capacity of 35, 000mT and it specialises in PE and PP post industrial waste from the petrochemical industry and converters.

Ciclic has a product range that covers the film, pipe, sheet and automotive industries. These products have been produced to exacting standards with the express purpose of replacing virgin polymer, which has recently gained a lot of interest from the automotive sector.

Irtion is the technological unit of the GCR group where a patented new way of mixing, drying and coating materials is giving the company the ability to improve the quality of the environmentally friendly plastics that Granic and Ciclic produce. The company is currently looking for strategic partners for this technology.

Further Information: www.plastribution.co.uk

on the cover

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bp&r BRITISH PLASTICS &RUBBER

contents MAY 2013

on the cover Expanding “environmentally friendly” plastics solutions GCR Group is the new company name for the producer of the Granic range of masterbatch. The company, formerly known as Gestora de Catalana de Residuos, started production in 2001 locally recycling PE and PP.

See page 4

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29-33 FEATURE

REGULARS INDUSTRY NEWS

08

Flame Retardants

From the Front Line

10

Global demand for flame retardants hots up

Reclamation and Recycling

17

Engineering Materials

38

INJECTION MOULDING

40

CURRENCY CORNER

43

SOFTWARE

43

BUYERS’ GUIDE

44

34-37 FEATURE Bioplastics Spotlight on next generation bioplastics

EDITOR’S LETTER Using plastics to build the future

31

12-15 FEATURE Construction and Infrastructure UK manufacturer launches EPS insulation for fragile profiled roofs

22

20-24 FEATURE Hot Runners The journey of a heat sensitive material

25-27 ]FEATURE Blown Film Extrusion Inline profile thickness measurement systems for plastics

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Industry News

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news Bayer has brought its work on carbon nanotubes to a close

Bayer closes work on carbon nanotubes Bayer MaterialScience has ended its work on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in an attempt to focus its development activities elsewhere.

The company says it prefers to focus more intently on topics that are closely linked to its core business. Precisely how the research results and know-how for the production and application of CNTs will be used further will be determined shortly.

Bayer says the conclusion of the nano projects has no impact on the employees involved, with all being transferred to other suitable positions within the group.

Researchers from Bayer MaterialScience had collaborated with external partners in recent years to resolve complex issues related to the safe production of specific carbon nanotubes.

Methods for scaling up the production processes were developed, as were new generations of catalysts and new types of products.

Much of the knowledge gleaned was made available to other companies and research institutions within the Innovation Alliance Carbon Nanotubes (Inno.CNT), which counts Bayer MaterialScience among its roughly 90 members.

“We remain convinced that carbon nanotubes have huge potential,” commented Patrick Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Bayer MaterialScience.

The company says it has found, however, that the potential areas of application that once seemed promising from a

technical standpoint are currently either very fragmented or have few overlaps with the company's core products and their application spectrum.

“For Bayer MaterialScience, groundbreaking applications for the mass market relating to our own portfolio and therefore comprehensive commercialisation are not likely in the foreseeable future,” said Thomas.

“Nonetheless, this know-how provides an important basis for a possible later use of CNT, for example in the optimisation of lithium ion batteries,” he added. “We are currently in contact with potential interested parties regarding the specific application of the know-how generated,” Thomas concluded. further information: www.materialscience.bayer.com

Plastics industry recovering slowly The global plastics industry is recovering from the economic crisis, albeit slowly, according to the latest data.

Despite 50 years of continuous growth in the industry, the financial crisis led to a drop in global plastics production, says the data released from PlasticsEurope.

However, since then, figures presented at PlasticEurope’s press conference ‘Facts and Figures UK’ on 14th May show there has been some positive developments with an annual growth rate of about 8.7 percent on a worldwide scale.

The figures show the demand for plastics materials in the UK was 3.7 million tonnes, an increase of 1.2 percent over 2011. Of this 3.7 million tonnes, packaging took a 44.3 percent share, while building and construction had 19.2 percent and automotive 5.9 percent.

On the other hand, in Europe, demand for materials dropped by 3.2 percent but packaging kept the largest share of production, with 40.2 percent.

“Despite global slow recovery, the plastics industry is optimistic that Europe remains a core centre of its activities,” said Kim Christiansen, Regional Director North of PlasticsEurope.

The new figures The next set of data regarding waste show the global management in 2012 will be presented plastics industry is at K-Fair in October 2013. recovering slowly

further information: www.plasticseurope.org

Industry News

news New plasma surface treatment and testing facility opened in UK UK-based supplier of plasma treatment equipment and processes, Henniker, has recently opened a new, dedicated plasma surface treatment and testing facility in Warrington.

Following rapid expansion and an increasing demand for plasma treatments from the automotive and aerospace sectors, the company says the new 1,400 sq. ft. facility will allow it to provide routine surface treatments, process development, and both pre- and post-treatment surface testing to its growing client base.

Henniker says plasma treatment has rapidly established itself as a key surface preparation technique in high-tech and fast-paced industries. It says the benefits of plasma surface treatment are twofold;

firstly, plasmas efficiently remove organic contamination from surfaces with no harmful waste or by-products and, secondly, they render many surfaces hydrophilic which in turn significantly improves their adhesion characteristics.

Plasma treatment installations are currently used to improve product manufacture and finishing in areas as diverse as automotive component painting and sub-sea power connector assemblies.

In its new facility, Henniker says it combines state of the art plasma treatment equipment with comprehensive surface testing facilities, including surface contamination detection and identification apparatus and also surface energy testing to ISO DIN standards using a variety of test methods such as surface test fluids and contact angle measurement techniques.

The new treatment and testing facility has opened in Warrington

Further Information: www.plasmatreatment.co.uk

NEWS FROM THE FRONT LINE This month’s update from Philip Law, the BPF’s Public and Industrial Affairs Director, looks at plastics at home and away.

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There is a considerable drive in the UK plastics industry to play its part in recycling more and the achievement to date shows that there is a role for both legislation and voluntary initiatives to play their part. This month, the BPF was at the front line of plastics recovery. Philip Watkins, President of the BPF, Peter Davis, Director General of the BPF and Dick Searle, Chief Executive of PAFA, headed down to Deal Beach, East Kent, to take part in the ‘Big Beach Clean Up’. The industry wants plastic back for recycling and not to be dumped or littered.

One success story in this area is that of recycling of PVC building products. This has been achieved on the back of an industry voluntary commitment, which has been in train since 2001 and which is now dubbed ‘VinylPlus’. Under this, a record of 362,076 tonnes of PVC were recycled last year across Europe with the UK as a leader, a remarkable achievement considering that these are long-life products and that building activity is flatlined. We have now recycled over one million PVC windows in the UK. PlasticsEurope also revealed figures this week that support this trend. They showed that progress continues to be made in the recovery and recycling of

L-R Philip Watkins, Dick Searle and Peter Davis at the ‘Big Beach Clean Up’

used materials. In 2011 the UK recovered some 27.3 percent of all used plastics.

Whilst this compares unfavourably with the European average of 59.6 percent, these figures mask some important details such as the growth in bottle recycling and the high proportion of milk containers now recycled. The figures also showed that UK consumption of plastics is recovering from its 2009 low, which will be of some comfort to the 180,0000 people employed in the UK plastics sector. Last year demand for virgin plastics by processors increased by 1.2 percent over the 2011 figure.

Finally, for exporters, UK Trade &

Investment has announced an increase in support for UK firm’s exhibiting at overseas tradeshows. There are now grants available of up to £3000 through the Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP).

With the additional financial help available, the programme aims to encourage British firms to export and promote their business abroad. Why not join the British Group this year at K 2013 (16 - 23 Oct 2013, Dusseldorf, Germany) and Plastivision (12 - 16 Dec 2013, Mumbai, India). further information: www.bpf.co.uk

Construction & Infrastructure

news BASF launches new website for sustainable construction BASF has launched a new global construction website with a focus on sustainability, which it says offers fast access to essential information in terms of challenges faced by the construction industry such as increasing durability, improving resource efficiency and climate protection.

“Sustainability is a crucial issue for the construction industry and chemistry plays an important role in designing innovations for sustainable construction,” said Dr. Tilman Krauch, President of BASF’s Construction Chemicals Division and Head of BASF’s Global Construction Steering Committee.

The website is designed to share sustainability practices with producers, contractors, applicators, developers and architects as well as BASF has launched a new site dedicated to sustainable construction

connecting stakeholders to BASF construction experts around the world.

BASF visitors can search for information for specific construction projects in order to learn how to use products and solutions in various applications, such as waterproofing solutions to protect roofs from water damage and foams to improve wall insulation and reduce energy costs.

Further Information: www.construction.basf.com

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UK injection moulder launches range of ventilators for fenestration industry Banbury-based Glazpart recently launched a new range of plastic injection moulded trickle ventilators, which it says meet the needs of today’s building designers, window fabricators and installers.

The new ‘Link-vent’ range of trickle ventilators, which are components used extensively in the UK and Europe to provide small amounts of ventilation in products such as window frames and doors, have been developed in two sizes and have reportedly been designed to meet the requirements of building regulations.

Dean Bradley, Sales and Marketing Manager at Glazpart Ltd said the new range is “the most versatile and efficient trickle ventilator on the UK market today,” with key benefits of the plastic design including a simple, user friendly opening of the vent finishes with a positive closing action.

Further Information: www.glazpart.com

news UK University leads exciting project for composites in infrastructure

The University of Warwick is leading a consortium that has been awarded a £1.3 million grant by the EPSRC

Civil and structural engineers will explore the durability of hightech composite materials of the type used in the aerospace and automotive industries in a bid to unlock their full potential for infrastructure and civil engineering works.

The University of Warwick is leading a consortium, including five other UK universities, which has been awarded a £1.3 million grant by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Composite materials have been used in the mechanical engineering sectors for many years, as they are strong, stiff and lightweight. For these reasons, they also offer exciting possibilities for new national infrastructure, especially in bridges and low-rise buildings.

But before they can be become a common feature of the built environment, engineers need to be able to predict exactly how long into the future their structures will be fit for purpose.

The DURACOMP project will address this challenge by carrying out physical testing of composite materials, structural connections and joints, as well as developing computer modelling of their behaviour for lifetimes in tens of years.

Professor Toby Mottram of the School of Engineering at the University of Warwick said: “High-performance, light-weight composites have transformed sectors like automotive and aerospace and there is real potential that they could do the same for the UK’s national infrastructure.

“But as buildings and bridges have to be designed to last longer into the future than cars or aeroplanes, we need to understand exactly how their structural performance will change with age and to possible climate changes.

“The deliverables from this grant will help us to establish the durability of these materials and their structures, through a combination of collecting experimental data and advancing computer modelling.”

Further Information: www.warwick.ac.uk

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Construction & Infrastructure

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news Swish building products reduces carbon footprint for fourth consecutive year Swish Building Products, UK-based manufacturers of PVC and PVC-Ue products and systems for the social housing, newbuild and trade construction markets, says it has reduced its carbon footprint for the fourth consecutive time; seeing a decrease of 26 percent since 2008.

In 2012 the company achieved the equivalent of ‘Carbon Trust Level One’, with a carbon reduction from 2011 of 8.82 percent across electricity, gas and heater fuel uses.

The company reportedly cut 29 percent from its water usage and 10 percent from its electricity consumption in 2012. Swish says it generated 255 tonnes of general waste over the year, including pallets and shrink-wrap, all of which was sorted and recycled, with only two percent going to landfill.

“Gaining our ISO 14001 accreditation in 2007 allowed us to focus on, and make year-on-year improvements in, energy efficiency and water usage. These best practice measures continue to make good

UK manufacturer launches EPS insulation for fragile profiled roofs UK-based manufacturer of expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation products, Jablite, has launched a lightweight reinforced EPS over-roof insulation system designed as a solution to the problem of upgrading the thermal performance of old and fragile profiled roofs.

New Flat Roof Profiled+ has been launched following a rigorous innovation process that was supported by the DECC/TSB ‘Invest in Innovative Refurbishment Fund’.

“Fragile, leaky profile roofs can be a headache for building owners, facilities managers and roofing contractors. They can be difficult to treat and if the roof is profiled asbestos cement, there are limited options available,” said Steve Broadhurst, Jablite’s Technical Manager.

The EPS insulation is cut using CNC technology, to fit the shape of any existing profiled roof. Jablite says the thermal

Swish building products manufacture PVC and PVC-Ue products for the construction markets

business sense, and remain a fundamental part of our business strategy,” commented Greg Wilde of Swish Building Products.

The company was amongst a pioneering group of building product suppliers to secure the environmental

management standard ISO14001 in 2007 to add to its quality management standard ISO9001. The occupational health and safety OHSAS18001 followed in 2009.

Further Information: www.swishbp.co.uk

Jablite has launched a lightweight reinfo rced EPS over-roof insulation system

performance of an aged profiled roof can be substantially improved and the insulation thickness can be specified to achieve the required U-values.

In addition, Jablite says the roof is weatherproofed over the insulation by way of a number of roofing membranes or even a new profiled finish. As a result, a

fragile roof reportedly can be transformed into a safe, dry, warm roof that will significantly reduce the building’s carbon footprint.

Further Information: www.jablite.co.uk

New triple-wall sheet Mak rolon multi UV 3/16-20.

Credit: Bayer MaterialScience

Bayer launches new PC sheet for the construction sector Bayer MaterialScience has launched a new version of its Makrolon polycarbonate (PC) sheet for the construction sector, which it says offers better surface quality, a co-extruded UV protective coating on both sides, optimised weight and increased bearing capacity over previous grades.

The new Makrolon multi UV 3/16-20 triple-wall sheet, which replaces the company’s UV 3/16-16 series, is said to be impact resistant and application friendly, as well as providing effective weather protection on both sides of the translucent sheet.

Bayer says the sheets are suitable as sheeting in industrial and athletic facilities, greenhouses and private residences, as well as applications where additional glazing against impact is required. UV 3/16-20 can be installed by cold bending, which Bayer says makes it a prime solution for tunnel vaults and window rows.

The sheet is available in two standard

colours and widths, as well as a ‘no drop’ grade, where the side of the sheet facing indoors has a permanent water-dispersing coating that is said to prevent the formation of water droplets in humid conditions.

Bayer says applications of its products for the construction sector include sports stadiums, train stations, sound-protection walls and greenhouses. In the area of

Insulation manufacturer puts innovation at heart of UK energy efficiency drive A UK manufacturer of extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation has called on the construction industry to put innovation centre stage at a recent government launch aimed at making the UK one of the world’s leaders in energy efficiency.

In a speech at the event, held to announce the launch of the Department for Energy and Climate Change’s energy efficiency mission, Jayne Law of Dow Building Solutions, manufacturers of of

Styrofoam XPS insulation, highlighted the role that the construction industry can play in bringing forward innovations that could help the government meet its ambitious targets.

“This means that an opportunity for British industry is unfolding, not just in the construction market, but the manufacturing industry, the chemical industry, the services industry, the energy sector, and beyond. The prospects for growth in my specific industry – thermal insulation — are better than ever,” she commented.

In terms of innovation, Law explained that as a manufacturer of thermal insulation products, Dow Building

Construction & Infrastructure

news

design and display, applications include plastic sheet for the surface protection of large displays, billboards, traffic signs and price boards.

Further Information: www.bayer.com

Solutions has been developing everthicker products that deliver more insulation ‘power’.

“We’ve also made strides in the Jayne Law of Do w processes we use Building Solutio ns to manufacture insulation materials,” she added. “We at Dow take carbon dioxide from industry and use it a blowing agent to produce our foams, bringing major environmental improvements.”

Further Information: www.styrofoam.co.uk

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bp&r

reclamation & recycling

news Increased household waste colletion key to hitting UK recycling targets, finds report According to figures from the latest survey by Recoup, household recycling has become the principal contributor towards achieving plastics packaging recycling targets, making up almost 70 percent of the 610,000 tonnes of the total plastics packaging recycled.

The Recoup 2012 UK Household Plastics Collection Survey found that the collection rate for plastic bottles has passed the 50 percent barrier for the first time, with 306,259 tonnes (52 percent) being recycled.

Other key findings of the survey include an overall collection rate of 36 percent for rigid household plastics and an increase of 58 percent in the collection of tonnes of pots, tubs and trays from the previous year.

Recoup says the findings show collection schemes for plastic films are gradually being introduced, with 70 Local Authorities (17 percent) offering a collection service and also that there is evidence that non-packaging plastics (such as plastic furniture and toys) are starting to be collected from ‘bring schemes’ in increasing volumes.

Recoup’s Technical Manager, Steve Morgan, stated: “The data clearly shows plastics collection levels have come a long way since the first survey recorded the collection of 425 tonnes

VinylPlus reaches new record for EU PVC recycling in 2012 VinylPlus, the European PVC industry sustainable development programme, recycled a record 362,076 tonnes of PVC in 2012, keeping it on track to meet the challenge of recycling 800,000 tonnes per year by 2020.

A more comprehensive and wider scope for what constitutes ‘recycled PVC’ has been adopted to include post-consumer and limited types of post-industrial PVC, as well as some of the regulated waste streams in the EU. Innovative technologies to recycle difficult-to-treat PVC waste are currently under evaluation and significant efforts were made to address the ‘legacy additives’ issue related to the presence of restricted chemicals in recycled PVC. The 2012 results were presented at the Vinyl Sustainability Forum 2013, where VinylPlus Chairman, Filipe Constant, said the industry “is effectively moving from a model of resource consumption that follows a ‘take-make-use-throw away’ linear pattern into a truly circular economy model which puts end-of-life materials back into the production stream extending the addedvalue of PVC’s inherent durability and versatility.”

In 2012, VinylPlus registered a decrease of 76.37 percent in lead stabiliser consumption in the EU-27 compared to 2007 levels, which should put it well on track to complete the substitution by the end of 2015, according to the association.

The new audit on the ‘PVC Industry Charters’ showed a 96 percent full compliance.

Further Information: www.vinylplus.eu

The Recoup survey found household waste recycling was a key driver towards achieving plastic packaging recycling targe ts

of plastic bottles. However, it is clear significant changes will be necessary if the UK is serious about achieving the new and ambitious five-year recycling targets for plastics packaging from 2013 to 2017. These include a five percent yearly growth in plastics packaging recycling targets for businesses obligated under the UK packaging regulations, going from 32 percent in 2012 to 57 percent by 2017.”

Further Information: www.recoup.org

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reclamation & recycling

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news Recycling and security to mix under new license A leading developer of plastic waste recycling has agreed a deal with a security consultancy specialist.

UK-based Environmental Recycling Technologies (ERT) has granted a licence to Falanx Protection Ltd for its Powder Impression Moulding (PIM) process.

ERT has developed the PIM process, which converts mixed waste plastics into commercial products.

The licence allows for the manufacture and sale of products made using the PIM process for anti-ballistic and anti-blast uses within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Roger Baynham, Managing Director of ERT, said: “The antiballistic and anti-blast products made using PIM opens up an exciting market for the application of our technology.

“We are thrilled to be working with the team at Essex-based Falanx and are confident that they can successfully commercialise our PIM technology within the MENA region,” he added.

Under the terms of the agreement, Falanx will pay ERT a licence fee of $100,000 (approx. £65,750) in addition to annual royalties based on sales of products made using the PIM process.

John Blamire, Chief Executive of Falanx Group plc, stated: “We are very pleased to be working with ERT. Their technology allows us to offer a product that gives improved blast resistance to

ERT has developed the PIM process, which converts mixed waste plastics into commercial products

buildings and the perceived threat of terrorism has resulted in an increase in enquiries for this type of product.”

Further Information: www.ertplc.com www.falanxprotection.com

New recycled polymer grade ticks the box for toys and stationery A Salford-based polymer producer has released a new variant of its recycled products.

Axion Polymers has produced Axpoly r-PS01, a 100 percent recycled polymer that meets British Standard testing for toy safety.

The BS EN 71 Toy Safety standard deals with many aspects of toy safety, from flammability and toxicity to their potential to trap clothing or cause physical harm to a child.

Axion Director, Keith Freegard said: “Proving the EN 71 standard had been met was the key order-winning aspect for the ultimate customer of the moulder, a large supermarket chain in central Europe.

“They had insisted the moulder used a plastic that was both recycled and able to meet European toy standards. Ours was the only material available that ‘hit the spot on both counts’,” he added.

He concluded: “As a result, we have high hopes that our recycled white polymer will gain wider acceptance in the toy or promotional gift market.”

Axion states it is now working to satisfy the revised Toy Safety standard, which are due to be announced in July.

Steve Bell, Axion’s Commercial Operation Manager, said Axpoly r-PS01 is ideal for re-use in new items such as toys, gifts and gadgets. “When we supplied Axpoly r-PS01 to a global stationery product manufacturer for its range of sustainable pencils, we had to satisfy the toy standards because people would chew on them,” he commented.

“Packaging recycling begins with design” says industry body According to a recent statement issued by EuPR (Plastics Recyclers Europe), current plastic packaging design is a threat to new EU recycling targets.

The organisation recently said that “packaging recycling does not begin with collection but design.” The group blames the idea that modern packaging designs today are focused mainly on maximising performance and that careless design may lead to problems with fully emptying packets, as well as material combinations which are incompatible with recycling.

Plastics Recyclers Europe believes that the introduction of a EU classification system will assist designers in evaluating their creations, in addition to helping them choose the best options to improve their recyclability classification.

RecyClass is the concept proposed as a solution, which is intended to build on existing ‘design for recycling’ guidelines. It will offer a platform to determine the recyclability class of plastic package designs, based on a scale from A to G (seven classes comparable to EU energy efficiency classes).

“Many months ago we started working on this project. At this stage a first draft of our model is being tested in several technical institutes in different European countries,” said Paolo Glerean, who heads EuPR’s packaging design task force.

“Our goal is to present the RecyClass tool during a special event at Interpack in Duesseldorf in May 2014.”

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%'- %MV /RMJI W]WXIQW EVI XLI ZIV] FIWX [E] XS EGLMIZI GSRWMWXIRX IJJIGXMZI WYVJEGI HV]MRK SJ TPEWXMG JMPQ VYFFIV TVSJMPIW ERH I\XVYWMSRW %PWS EW [IPP EW JYPJMPPMRK XLIWI XEWOW IJJIGXMZIP] FPS[IV HVMZIR W]WXIQW HS MX QSVI GSWXW IJJIGXMZIP] XLER ER] SXLIV EPXIVREXMZI IWTIGMEPP] GSQTVIWWIH EMV

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HOT RUNNERS

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news Range of multi-couplings for sequential injection developed Stäubli, specialists in quick release connections, says it is continuing to develop its range of multi couplings designed for advances in the injection moulding industry that require a sequential injection process, ensuring that each segment of the mould is supplied with material at the required flow rate and temperature.

The SPC multi-couplings are said to have been developed specifically to address the need for quick and accurate changes of sequential valve gate connections.

Stäubli says connecting the hydraulic circuits during mould changeovers can take up to 20 minutes when individual couplings are used, even longer if threaded connections are involved, but this time is reduced to less than one minute with the SPC multi-couplings, where up to eight inlets and eight outlets can be positioned on one SPC multicoupling plate.

Connection accuracy is said to be guaranteed, with connection only possible in one position, eliminating any possibility of a wrong or cross connection. Additional safety options include a keying system

preventing any connection errors where several plates are used with the same mould tool.

Stäubli says the efficient and robust locking system is quickly activated by simple rotation of the removable control lever and the optional proximity switch ensures safe working practices are maintained by providing a signal to give direct indication that the plates are securely together.

A parking plate is said to provide the additional benefit of protecting the machine side plate during a tool change and improving safety by retaining loose hoses.

Each SPC connector is of flush face, non-spill design, said to improve safety by preventing any spillage of fluid that could lead to hazardous slippery floors and preventing the cost involved in replacing and cleaning up any spilt fluid. The connector design is also said to ensure no ingress of contaminants into the circuits that could affect the performance of the system and increase the need for maintenance. Space is normally at a premium on mould surfaces so Stäubli says the small footprint permits flexibility in mounting the tool side plate on any available location on the mould.

Stäubli’s sequential injection multicouplings, SPC 203 and SPC 205 are

Hasco expands hot runner nozzle range Hot runner specialist, Hasco, has extended its range of Techni Shot hot runner nozzles with the addition of open torpedo tips for needle valve applications.

Hasco says the nozzles, which are available both as mono nozzles for simple applications and for injection moulding tools with hot runners, can achieve immersion depths up to 300mm and produce medium-sized mouldings up to approximately 1700g shot weight per nozzle.

In addition, the company says a variety of tried and tested tip geometries, materials and screw-on gate chambers are available, enabling optimum heat conduction in the gate area to be combined with excellent resistance to abrasive wear even for high-grade filled plastics.

Another new addition to the Techni Shot nozzle range is the Type 20 size, designed for small shot weights and small cavity-to-cavity distances. A defined sealing surface on the locking nut is said to ensure low heat transfer.

Hasco says its latest development is maintenance friendly, achieved through full replaceability of all the relevant components such as the heating unit, thermocouples, nozzle body, tips and locking nut.

A special design feature is said to allow the thermocouple to be changed without removing the melt chamber.

Hasco says this considerably reduces the work involved in maintenance. The nozzle is suitable for all material applications, particularly for engineering and reinforced plastics.

The new heating system is said to ensure uniform temperature distribution, resulting in a homogeneous heat profile

Stäubli has developed a range of connectors specifically for hot runners/sequential injection

designed for flow rates up to 2.85l/mn and up to 8l/mn respectively. They control the centralised supply of hydraulics to the valve gate cylinders and operation of the sequential injection nozzles of the injection moulding machine.

There are several options available on each model depending on the number of circuits to be supplied; two, four, six or eight, the plate fixed to the mould will have the corresponding four, eight, twelve or sixteen plugs.

Further Information: www.staubli.com/en/connectors

The range of Techni Shot hot runner nozzles has been extended with open torpedo tips

along the entire flow channel. Due to the optimum positioning of the thermocouple close to the nozzle tip, Hasco says accurate temperature regulation is ensured.

Further Information: www.hasco.com

Email: connectors.uk@staubli.com

HOT RUNNERS

Tel: 01952 671918

news New hot runner system for moulding high clarity polycarbonate Italian supplier of moulds and hot runner systems, HRSFlow, has recently developed a new hot runner system line said to be particularly suitable for moulding polycarbonate (PC) components requiring high aesthetic qualities, such as front headlamp components for the automotive industry, including housings, bezels and especially PC or PC-HT moulded lenses.

The new Diamond Lux line is also said to be well suited to the plastic glazing sector, where quarter windows and panorama roofs – formerly manufactured in silica glass – are now moulded in polycarbonate by using multishot technology to integrate locating and mounting features.

HRSFlow says particular attention has been dedicated in the new line to hot runner thermal optimisation – which it says is the key factor affecting moulded part aesthetics. The company says this objective has been achieved by insulating the mould plates using spacers with low thermal conductivity and paying particular attention to power loss in the thermal bridges. All contacts towards the mould have been geometrically optimised in order to reduce thermal power dissipation and are made of materials with low thermal conductivity.

The company says heaters are symmetrically positioned at the top and bottom of the manifolds to reduce cold zones and high residence time. The

The new line is said to be particularly suited for automotive glazing applications such as lenses

screwed-in nozzles do not allow any contact with the mould except for the tip area.

HRSFlow says nozzle thermal control is optimised thanks to the use of special brass sleeve heaters. Each heater is dedicated to the thermal control of the gate zone and this ensures a more precise and steady process control. The high thermal conductivity of brass also helps to standardise the thermal profile. These technical solutions are said to ensure a more constant temperature, with a tolerance in the region of 10°C across the entire system. Thermal analysis of the manifolds is provided for each system to demonstrate that temperature uniformity is reliable. HRSFlow says the nozzle is fully protected by a stainless steel protection tube that ensures consistent temperature distribution by reducing thermal dissipation and at the same time acts as a guard for the The new hot runner system line said to be thermocouple wires. The particularly suitable for moulding PC nozzle design has also

been modified to minimise cut out pocket space in the injection area.

HRSFlow says all internal hot runner channels have been engineered to avoid stagnation spots that could cause unacceptable defects in crystal clear lenses and special shaped plugs have also been implemented to further avoid any stagnation close to the valve gate pin.

Tip and end ring geometry, and the material used to produce them, has been selected to optimise gate area temperature. The company says special attention has been paid to the quality of the injection point/vestige in the moulded part. Furthermore, HRSFlow says they have been designed to provide optimal performance even in the event of high injection pressure.

Finally, the entire hot runner is made of a special steel and coating that is said to prevent polycarbonate degradation and, as a result, the risk of unaesthetic black spots on crystal clear applications such as lenses and window panels. The consequence, says the company, is fewer rejects and higher productivity.

Further Information: www.hrsflow.com

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HOT RUNNERS

www.quick-mould-change.com

news

Mold-Masters is a provider of hot runner technology

Hot runner specialist chooses new CAE analysis for part optimisation Mold-Masters, a specialist in hot runner technology, has selected Moldex3D software from CoreTech System Co. Ltd., an injection moulding CAE simulation specialist, to build the global CAE analysis standard for design verification and optimisation of its hot runner systems.

Mold-Masters has reportedly invested in “a comprehensive product management project to set global CAD/CAM/CAE standards for the organisation to accommodate the growing demands in hot runner business”, according to a statement from SimpaTec, a re-seller of Moldex3D. Cristoph Hinse, Managing Director of SimpaTec, stated: “We as re-seller appreciate Mold-Masters’ decision as a very important step for the plastics injection moulding industry. With Moldex3D the user is able to analyse and revise hot runner systems in order to observe quality aspects of the final product, e.g. filling pattern, weld lines, high gloss or painting free. But also economic aspects like reducing cycle times, clamping force or injection pressure or saving resin, are assessable, too.”

“At Mold-Masters, we are continually looking to have the bestin-class engineering analysis software to help us to deliver the ultimate in melt delivery and control systems. We selected Moldex3D because of its unique technologies. The tool not only

(a)

(b) Shown is the original design (a) The evaluation with Moldex3D results in a more uniform temperature along hot runner nozzle in the revised design (b)

offers more realistic mould filling simulation results for building the organisation standard for hot runner design analysis, but also provides more advanced 3D features to help us on the deep investigation of new product development,” said Hans Hagelstein, President of Mold-Masters Global Engineering.

“We are very excited to working with Mold-Masters which is the world leading supplier of hot runner technology,” said Dr. Venny Yang, President of the CoreTech System. “Hot runner systems play a more and more important role in achieving an effective injection moulding. Moldex3D’s not only offers the advanced coupled flow and thermal analysis for hot runner systems, but also develops the private cloud solution for helping customers to build their own high performance computing platform. I firmly believe that Moldex3D unique capabilities will provide greater value to Mold-Masters for strengthening the company’s competitiveness.”

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Further Information: www.simpatec.com www.moldmasters.com

Email: connectors.uk@staubli.com

HOT RUNNERS

Tel: 01952 671918

news The journey of a heat sensitive material It may sound obvious, but material degradation caused by heat is a function of temperature and time; the higher the temperature, the shorter the time you have before the material degrades. Chris Siddall, Managing Director of Eastern Plastics Machinery, writes for BP&R on the journey the material makes as it travels through the heated channel of a hot runner system.

Our research has proven to us that the position of a thermocouple, which effectively controls the main material flow channel temperature in the probe or valve body, is absolutely critical; too far away from the gate and the gate temperature is too low – the material will freeze off in the gate and not allow the injection of the next shot – too close to the gate and the body and material further back in the hot runner can easily over heat and cause degradation.

The problem when using hot runners is that often, the heater temperature you see is not necessarily the hottest point within the hot runner system. We know this because with many hot runners, although the temperature set point may appear fine for the material being used, the moment the machine stops – even for a short period – can result in rapid degradation and burnt material being injected into the mould when the machine is re-started.

The systems we build can offer the choice of either a single heater in the body or a dual heater layout. We have found that with independent control of the gate temperature area from the main part of the bushing or probe, results can be quite dramatic when it comes to degradation issues – in particular when moulding engineering materials which degrade easily and when faced with moulding small shot-size products with engineering materials, which further compounds the problem. This often results in users opting for a small sub runner, which then has the inevitable sorting and recycling issues. Single heater systems are fine in their place, but for ultimate optimisation the independent control a gate heater will give is unbeatable. Put simply, the cycled gate heater can put heat there when you need it, just prior to injection, but then remove the heat during cooling for optimum product cycling and quality.

Single and dual heater valve gate systems are available in the latest line of products from Seiki. The newly developed SPT central flow system, designed for very small shot weight products such as connectors, boasts an 8mm to 8mm pitch capability but still has an external independent cycling gate heater function for each cavity.

Another feature of the dual heater system is that the controller takes a signal from the injection moulding machine and uses this to control when the gate heat goes up and down in temperature, resulting in the controller being ‘intelligent’ and, as such, knowing if the machine is cycling or not. No cycling means no gate heater signal. By using this signal, the controller is

The compact SPT dual heater probe

Material must travel through the heated channel of a hot runner system

alerted if the machine stops and can automatically go to standby temperatures, further enhancing unmanned production situations.

Further Information: www.easternplastics.co.uk

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HOT RUNNERS FEATURE

www.quick-mould-change.com

Tips for

colour cHANGING hot runners

By John Steadman Technical Director at Aquapurge When changing colour on hot runners it is always important to determine where the colour is being held up.

In the diagram (Fig .1), the images from left to right show colour in the tip (a), in the tip and manifold (b), staining on the screw (c), colour hang-up in the nozzle (d) and colour caught everywhere (e).

The cleaning of a hot runner should always be carried out in a series procedure, firstly with housekeeping, then screw and barrel, manifold and, finally, tips.

Starting from the beginning, housekeeping should ensure hoppers, granulators and conveying systems are immaculately clean. This should never be taken lightly, especially when using purging compounds, as the faster results expected from a purging compound can be seriously hampered by reintroducing colour from poor housekeeping.

The screw and barrel are sometimes mistaken as being clean when colour changing hot runners, because purging the screw and barrel is done at low and constant pressure and low speed. This can give a purging that looks clean, yet can

show up in mouldings as in c, d and e (see Fig.1). Mechanical purging compounds, for example Barrel Blitz Universal, that use the natural compression of the screw to clean, will be effective to clean under low pressure and speed conditions.

Now comes the hot runner. A key point to remember is multi-cavity hot runners are made up of many channels, negative flow areas and are a constant battle between heating and cooling. But once understood, all these points can be used to aid the colour change process.

In these channels, a polymer’s velocity is laminar; its maximum speed is in the centre and is almost zero at the sidewalls.

Purging compounds try to increase the velocity at the sidewalls, with products like Poly Clear HR 8 and HR 20 doing this through polymer manipulation, foaming and temperature change (Fig.2).

Negative flow areas are points such as insulated tips where the first polymer to enter the tip is only removed manually by splitting the tool. If you are going to split the tool and manually remove the tip Fig 3: Colour change can be aided by ensure the manipulating the cooling moulding looks

Fig 1: The images show where colour can build in a hot runner

Fig 2

like type a (Fig.1). If the mouldings are in any other state you will only put more coloured material into the tip.

A final tip to aid colour changes is to manipulate the cooling, although qualified technicians should only carry out this process as moulding issues and tool damage may occur. By turning off the water to the tool (for short periods) this will allow the insulated tip to become fully molten. This will not cause the polymer to completely flow into the negative flow area but will flow more so into that area. A good rule of thumb is always to try it on a tool and if no extra colour becomes evident in the mouldings then it will not be required for that tool (Fig.3).

Further Information: www.aquapurge.com

Blown Film Extrusion

news New external gauge control system for blown film extrusion lines launched Addex Inc., a supplier of blown film equipment and components, has announced the launch of an enhanced automatic external gauge control (EGC) system for blown film extrusion lines.

The new Tandem external gauge control (TEGC) system is said to combine the gauge control efficiency of Addex’s EGC air ring, with a bubble stabilising lower air ring which achieves 15 to 30 percent greater output compared to the company’s standard EGC system.

“The Tandem EGC is the culmination of extensive development work,” said Rick von Kraus, President of Addex Inc. “Addex works continually to devise unique products that help processors increase yield and realise major raw material savings.”

Addex says the lower single-lip air ring sits on the die and matches its diameter.

It is fed by a blower about half the size of the blower needed for a typical air ring.

The blower gently cools the bubble and stabilises it before entering the realm of the upper, dual-lip automatic gauge control air ring, which is located above it.

The more stable bubble is said to allow for higher output without jeopardising the gauge control function.

The upper EGC air ring is 50mm bigger than the die size, therefore, a 400mm die employs a 400mm single-lip air ring located on the die and a 450mm EGC air ring situated on top (see image).

The larger diameter for the upper air ring, which is equipped with the gauge controlling features, is needed to accommodate for the blow up ratio.

Addex says the remaining components of the Tandem EGC system are the same as those of the standard EGC system. The standard unit is an automatic system that is said to reduce film thickness variations by up to 70 percent, typically resulting in a five to six percent raw material saving. Addex says it simplified the original air ring structure by moving the electronic circuit board from outside of the air ring into the plenum area. It says this integration offers simplicity, enabling the user (end user or OEM customer) to rely on its own control

New system to reduce airborne contamination in blown film extrusion plants Future Design, a specialist in air ring technology, has launched a new system that it says can reduce airborne contaminants by as much as 80 percent in blown film extrusion plants and extend the need for cleanings from every six weeks to quarterly, or longer.

The new Saturn Evacuation System (SES) is said to comprise a small air ring that fits any air ring or die that is constructed of aluminum and fits between the die and the primary cooling ring.

Connected to the vacuum side of the blower, the system creates a positive vacuum that draws as much as 80 percent of the contamination from the lowpressure zone at the die exit. The polluted air is filtered and the discharged particulates directed to a suitable location.

Future points out that contaminants from the blown film process are inevitable and cause safety, health and maintenance problems. Comprised of smoke, fumes, vaporous residues and other noxious polymers from the extrusion process of blown film, these contaminants cannot be captured by conventional exhaust systems and are too heavy to stay airborne. As a result, they settle on equipment frames, railings, electrical components or lighting throughout the plant, causing many facilities to shut down for one or more days as often as every six weeks to eliminate these contaminants. Future says initial installations of the new SES systems have enabled plants to extend cleaning from weeks to months. Airborne particulates as high as 60 million parts per million (ppm) have been reduced to as few as 400,000 ppm, the company says.

In addition to providing a reduction in airborne pollutants, Future says other benefits include increased film quality and

The new Tandem EGC for blown film extrusion lines

panel if desired. An end user or OEM customer may also use its own thickness measuring system and feed it via the Ethernet connection to the air ring.

Further Information: www.addexinc.com

Future Design says blown film extrusion plants can now reduce airborne contaminants by as much as 80 percent with its new Saturn Evacuation System (SES)

production; the ability to attach other filters, electrostatic precipitators and air cleaning devices to the SES; the ability to retrofit on any die or air ring package as well as assisting with start-up. further information: www.futuredesigninc.com

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Blown Film Extrusion

news New pre-nip chillers for blown film extrusion said to increase output Pearl Technologies, a designer and manufacturer of consumable parts for converting and extrusion capital equipment, has launched a new line of pre-nip chiller spreaders, which it says can enable blown film processors to increase output by as much as 10 to 20 percent.

Offered to processors who experience blocking or have low ceiling heights, Pearl says its pre-nip chiller spreaders are custom designed to mount at the top of the tent frame. The chillers are said to require eight inches of vertical space on the collapsing frame – which the company says, in many cases, is all that is needed is to remove the top two slats or rollers for installation.

Pearl Technologies says benefits of the new pre-nip chiller spreaders include the ability to be custom designed to fit any line, improvement of film quality and also the elimination of film blocking,

which therefore saves on anti-block additives.

The company also says that the chillers can reduce film temperatures by as much as 10°C, prevent sag at unwind and also eliminate wrinkles in the nip assembly.

Blown film processors can reportedly increase output by as much as 10 to 20 percent with new Pre-Nip Chiller Spreaders from Pearl Technologies

Further Information: www.pearltechinc.com

As the UK agents for Labtech, we are pleased to provide blown film laboratory machinery for research and development or quality control applications.

t Extruder sizes from 12mm to 45mm t Mono layer or up to 7-layer co-extruded film t Fully computerised, closed loop operation t Up to 500mm layflat t High cooling efficiency t Build quality second-to-none t Laboratory scale to pilot scale production

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For all your laboratory machinery, call 01626 83 63 73 or visit us online at www.millmerran.co.uk

Sole UK Agent for Labtech Engineering

thickness measurement systems for plastics Micro-Epsilon’s Systems Group, specialists in the development, manufacture and installation of non-contact, inline and offline measurement and inspection systems, says it can offer plastics processing companies and extruders of blown plastic films a range of complete, inline precision measurement and inspection systems from a single source.

These include specific measurement systems for plastics processing applications, including systems for measuring thickness and profile of blown film, extruded plastic sheet, strip and plates.

Chris Jones, Managing Director at Micro-Epsilon UK, commented: “Many plastics processing companies prefer to outsource to a third party specialist in non-contact measurement. Over the past 12 years, Micro-Epsilon’s Systems Group has developed a range of innovative, robust, complete turnkey measurement systems that offer distinct technical advantages in terms of measurement accuracy, thermal stability and reliability. This is backed up by installation, servicing, maintenance, technical support with guaranteed response times, retrofitting and upgrade services.”

The Group’s range of measurement systems for plastics includes the the FTS 8102, a C-frame system that measures the thickness profile of plastic strip and sheet. C-frame systems are modular in their design, offering flexibility and high performance. Micro-Epsilon says these systems can be installed in plastic extrusion and calendar lines, providing reliable, high precision measurement results that create a basis for controlling the production process and product quality.

C-frame systems measure differentially. An applicationspecific (confocal, capacitive or laser triangulation)

Micro-Epsilon offers plastics processing companies and extruders of blown plastic films a range of complete, inline precision measurement and inspection systems

displacement sensor is integrated in the upper and lower flanges of the C-frame. The thickness of the target material is derived from the distance between the two sensors and the resulting signals. By combining highly efficient signal processing algorithms and visualisation software, the system is said to be able to achieve accuracies to +/- 1µm. MicroEpsilon says these systems are therefore suitable for use in extrusion lines for cast film or deep drawn film, blown film lines after collapsing, melting calendar lines, and extrusion lines for plastic profiles and plates.

For larger material widths up to 4,000mm, Micro-Epsilon says its FTS 8101 O-frame systems are able to measure plastic thicknesses from <100µm up to 10mm at accuracies of +/- 5µm. O-frame systems measure differentially and incorporate many of the same features, functionality and software as C-frame systems. An application-specific displacement sensor is mounted on a mechanical carriage in the upper and lower flanges of the O-frame, which detects the upper side of the target material. This works in combination with an eddy current sensor in a housing, which detects the underside of the opposite target via a measuring roll. The thickness of the target material is the difference between the two sensor signals. This provides the advantage of ensuring a ‘true thickness’ measurement of the product irrespective of rollers and bearing wear, which would cause errors in conventional measurement systems. In addition, a sophisticated thermal compensation algorithm corrects for changes in the measured thickness, by compensating for thermal expansion of mechanical parts.

Micro-Epsilon’s thicknessCONTROL BTS 8104 system measures profile thickness of non-conductive blown film, including film used for packaging, agricultural applications, waste bin liners, carrier bags, freezer bags and shrink covers.

Designed as traversing systems, the BTS 8104 is based on capacitive measuring technology. Capacitive sensors are mounted directly behind the calibration cage on the film bubble, which the company says therefore offers very fast, efficient control of the production process. Adaptive traversing speed enables measurements to be adjusted according to each stage of the extrusion process.

The BTS 8104.NC system, for example, is based on a patented pneumatic positioning control system that utilises non-contact air bearing technology. These bearings enable very precise positioning and compensate for any movement on the film bubble. The system is ideal for measuring highly adhesive surface protection films on the bubble very close to the blow head.

The BTS 8104 system measures film widths from 255mm up to 3,600mm (double flat) and film thicknesses from 5µm up to 300µm. further information: www.micro-epsilon.co.uk

Blown Film Extrusion feature

Inline profile

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Flame Retardants

news New PC copolymer meets impending fire safety standards for rail travel The Innovative Plastics division of SABIC recently unveiled a new polycarbonate (PC) copolymer that it says is the first thermoplastic solution for rail seating applications to meet the strict fire safety requirements under the CEN/TS 45545 standard.

SABIC says the upcoming implementation of the CEN/TS 45545 standard in Europe in 2015 raised the possibility that seating manufacturers might have to stop using thermoplastics unless a compliant material could be identified. A German railway interiors manufacturer approached SABIC for assistance after it outlined its concerns that the implementation of the new standard could mean significant investment to reconfigure tooling and adjust its design.

Unveiled commercially two years before the European standard is effective, SABIC’s Lexan FST3403 (flame-smoketoxicity) material, which was developed specifically for seat back shells and side covers, achieved the highest possible hazard level rating (HL3) under CEN/TS 45545-2 R5, according to the certificate from the Currenta Institute, which performed independent testing.

In addition to its reportedly exceptional heat release, smoke density and toxicity performance, SABIC says Lexan FST3403 can be moulded into existing tooling that is typically used for PC/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) materials, avoiding significant capital costs and providing exceptionally high flow capabilities, enabling large parts such as seat back shells to be injection moulded with high impact strength, high-quality aesthetics and without marks, texture defaults, flow lines and other surface defects.

SABIC says another aesthetic benefit of Lexan FST3403 copolymer is its ability to be custom coloured, which avoids the need for secondary painting.

“SABIC’s proactive focus on developing advanced materials technology for rail industry customers will give them a significant head start in developing compliant seating components for a firstto-market competitive advantage,” said Ilknur Gur, General Manager, Speciality Business in Europe, Innovative Plastics.

“Our new Lexan FST3403 copolymer

Huntsman sparks interest with flame retardant prepolymer for Polyurea At the recent European Coatings Show in Nürnberg, Germany, Huntsman Polyurethanes revealed details of a new chemistry that it says makes it far easier to embed fire retardant properties in hot spray polyurea systems.

The company says that historically it has been difficult for formulators to add flame retardant properties to polyurea without compromising overall coating performance, as the risk of overloading the polyetheramine or ‘B’ side of the system has always been too great.

When used on the isocyanate or ‘A’ side of polyurea, Huntsman says its new Suprasec 2154 prepolymer has built-in flame retardant features. This means formulators can put extra fire protection

additives into the amine half of a system more freely – reportedly helping them achieve the desired results, without creating an imbalance or impacting on other essential coating properties.

Huntsman Polyurethanes says it is aiming Suprasec 2154 prepolymer at applications where passive fire prevention is required, for example in coating concrete and steel structures in multi-storey car parks.

Ian Rimmer, Commercial Manager Coatings EAME at Huntsman Polyurethanes, said: “Initial tests have gone well and we are now into the scale up phase – having some interesting conversations with existing customers about a wide range of application opportunities.”

Suprasec is the trade name for Huntsman’s range of MDI and MDIbased prepolymers which are used to formulate adhesives, coatings and elastomers.

SABIC’s New Lexan FST3403 polycarbonate copolymer is used in rail seating applications including seat back shells and side covers

enables customers to continue using thermoplastics in their seat back shells and side covers instead of having to revert to traditional metal or thermosets that can inhibit design flexibility and potentially add weight and costs from secondary operations. This industry-leading technology greatly simplifies and accelerates compliance with the new European standard.”

Further Information: www.sabic-ip.com

29 Further Information: www.huntsman.com

bp&r

Flame Retardants

news Thermoplastics manufacturer fights fires with flame-retardants Engineering thermoplastics manufacturer, Perrite, has outlined the importance of flame-retardance and fire safety when considering polymers for the manufacture of common plastic products.

The company operates to industry best practice with a testing laboratory that is UL certified, with products tested internally and routinely audited by UL. Perrite says this provides an external system for managing an invisible property and ensures that the highest quality standards are maintained.

“Polymers will burn when subjected to high temperatures and naked flame. There are flammable materials and potential fire sources all around us, electrical and electronic products an obvious example. These require protective measures to safeguard us and this is the role of flame retardants, chemical substances that can delay the start of a developing fire; interrupt the combustion process and make the polymer self extinguishing,” commented David Hall, Commercial Director, Perrite Europe.

Perrite says its flame retardant compounds form a distinct class within its product range, offering both halogenated and halogen-free variants that are formulated, coloured and matched to individual customer requirements and are ideally suited to a

range of Electrical products applications where pose a fire hazard high standards are set for fire safety, with carefully considered grade selection and optimised mechanical performance.

“Key design considerations in selecting the correct compound are the class of flame retardance required for the part thickness and intended service, process stability and physical properties plus additional features such as glow wire, Oxygen index and smoke characteristics,” added Hall.

Further Information: www.perrite.com

‘First class’ masterbatch for stadium seating

Stadium seating made using Gabriel-C hemie’s Maxithen PPSEAT range was tested for its fireretardant properties

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Masterbatch manufacturer, Gabriel-Chemie, has announced that tests completed at the beginning of 2013 revealed its Maxithen PPSEAT range achieved the best possible rating for flame retardancy in accordance with the Italian standard UNI 9177:1987, meaning it can now be used for stadium seating in Italy.

The Maxithen PPSEAT range underwent a fire test in the laboratory of the CSI Institute in Bollate, Italy, during which not only the fire behaviour, but also the dripping behaviour of the burning plastic article was measured. According to the test report, Maxithen PPSEAT achieved Class One (classe UNO) status, the highest possible rating.

“With the certificate, ‘classe UNO’, we can make our products available in Italian stadiums,” said DI Rodolfo Santa Olalla, CEO of the Gabriel-Chemie Group.

Further Information: www.gabriel-chemie.com

Flame Retardants

news Halogen-free flame retardant products for electronics market launched DSM has launched a series of new halogen-free flame retardant Stanyl compounds for the electronics market, which it says will allow manufacturers of connectors, sockets and electronic components to enjoy the traditional strengths of Stanyl products, such as toughness and high flow, with more reliable and trouble-free processability.

The company says this new generation of materials incorporates technology to address issues associated with other high temperature polyamides.

Aiming to address the increasing demand on the miniaturisation and integration of electronic products, the new Stanyl SC50 and Stanyl MC50 grades are said to show exceptional higher performance over conventional halogenfree HTPA materials, such as much higher flow, thin wall strength and Glow Wire

Ignition Temperature at end use.

“The halogen-free requirement has narrowed the material choice of the industry. As a provider of innovative and sustainable solutions for the electronics industry, we’re bringing these series of new products based on new flame retardant technology to offer a wider choice for our customers,” said Jason Lee, DSM’s Global Segment Manager of IO and FPC Connectors.

DSM says commercially available halogen-free flame retardants for HTPA were found to compromise considerably on many aspects of material performance, as well as presenting challenges such as corrosion of injection moulding machines.

As a result, DSM says it decided to develop halogen-free flame retardant Stanyl grades without corrosion. “DSM’s unique flame retardant solution has enabled us to provide stable supply of process-friendly products to the market.

We are offering Stanyl SC50 with UL94 V-0 rating and Stanyl MC50 with UL94 V-2 rating,” commented Lee. “The electronics industry continues to

experience rapid growth, driven by rising wealth in the high growth economies, as well as the speed of innovation and shrinking product lifespan in the consumer electronics sector.

“We need to sense and capture all the potential trends and challenges that our customers face, and keep coming up with better innovative solutions in response with speed,” concluded Lee. Further Information: www.dsm.com

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Flame Retardants

news Clariant Exolit flame retardants receive EU recognition Speciality chemicals company, Clariant, says a European Unioncommissioned study of flame retardants for smartphones, laptops and other electrical and electronics applications has acknowledged the environmental and

health benefits of its Exolit nonhalogenated flame retardants.

The technology by Clariant, which it claims sets new standards in nonhalogenated flame retardants offering exceptional ecological, toxicological and performance properties, was featured in the new European Union research project into substitution options for brominated flame retardants (BFRs).

Entitled ‘Life Cycle Assessment of

Flame retardants from Clariant were recogised in the EU study

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Environmenally Compatible Flame Retardants’ (ENFIRO), the three-year viability study involved 12 partners and looked at 15 commercially available, nonhalogenated flame retardants of different composition and applications. It found halogen-free flame retardants (HFFRs), such as Exolit OP and Exolit AP based on ammonium polyphosphate, offered similar fire performance and technical application capabilities as BFRs while producing less smoke and less undesirable components in smoke. In the case of printed circuit boards, HFFRs were found to be as good as or better compared to the reference circuit boards produced using BFRs. Clariant says the results underline the real possibility for manufacturers to produce sophisticated components that must meet high safety and fire protection requirements without halogenated flame retardants.

“Industries such as consumer electronics and telecommunications, along with electrical engineering, photovoltaics, household appliances and others, seek the optimal technological and economical solutions to fulfil fire safety requirements. Independent acknowledgement of the ecological, toxicological and performance benefits of non-halogenated flame retardants such as Exolit will help provide the leverage and positive support these industries need to transition toward more environmentally-compatible flame retardants for their applications,” commented Adrian Beard, Head of Marketing for Flame Retardants at Clariant.

Further Information: www.clariant.com

Hots Up The Freedonia Group is has recently published an industry study, ‘World Flame Retardants’, that presents historical demand data (2001, 2006, 2011) plus forecasts for 2016 and 2021 by material, type, market and world region for 18 countries. The study also considers market environment factors, evaluates company market share, and profiles 37 global competitors. Below is some of the highlights of the report.

Worldwide demand for flame retardant additives is forecast to rise 5.4 percent yearly to 2.6 million metric tonnes in 2016, according to predictions from the latest study from research company the Freedonia Group.

It says advances will represent an acceleration over the 2006-2011 period, in which demand was severely impacted by the effects of the global economic slowdown, especially in the mature markets of the US, Western Europe and Japan.

In addition to an improved economic outlook, flame retardant demand through 2016 will benefit from trends toward improved fire safety and flammability standards – particularly in the developing world – and the rising use of plastic products over less flammable materials.

Non-halogenated types to benefit from favourable environmental profiles Freedonia’s research shows alumina trihydrate was the leading flame retardant product by volume in 2011, and this is expected to post above-average gains in demand through to 2016, driven by trends toward non-halogenated chemicals.

The company says halogenated types (chlorinated and brominated) will see subpar advances due to health and safety concerns, while in turn providing opportunities for a number of non-halogenated alternatives. It says flame retardants that feature more favourable environmental profiles, including boron, phosphorus, melamine and magnesium hydroxide, will benefit most from the trend away from the use of halogenated chemicals. However, although brominated flame retardants are being phased out of a number of applications, Freedonia says superior performance and new, environmentally friendly formulations will help these products remain an important part of the product mix going forward.

Construction markets to experience fastest gains Freedonia’s study shows construction and electrical and electronic applications were the leading markets for flame retardants in 2011, each accounting for about one-fourth of overall demand.

It says faster gains are expected for construction products, fuelled by the recovery of the markets in North America and Western Europe and increasing flammability standards in the developing world. Wire and cable, for both communications and power transmission, will expand along with new construction, generating demand for flame retardant products.

Flame Retardants FEATURE

Global demand for Flame Retardants

Freedonia predicts worldwide demand for flame retardant additives is forecast to rise 5.4 percent yearly to 2.6 million metric tonnes in 2016

Demand in motor vehicle applications will also exhibit improvement due to the rebound in motor vehicle output in North America, Western Europe, and Japan and continued growth in developing countries according to the study. The increasing use of plastics in vehicles provides additional opportunities for flame retardant demand.

Asia/Pacific region to retain market dominance The study suggests the Asia/Pacific region will continue to be the largest and fastest-growing market for flame retardants through to 2016, accounting for more than half of global demand. Advances will be fuelled by over eight percent annual growth in the large Chinese market, rapid development in less developed countries such as India and Thailand and solid growth for electronics producers such as South Korea and Taiwan. The study says gains in North America will reflect Mexico's growing importance as a producer of electronics and other consumer goods for the American markets and also the recovery of building construction in the US. It suggests Western Europe will see a rebound from the declining demand of the 2006-2011 period, although financial uncertainty will restrain growth in flame retardant outlets such as construction and motor vehicle production.

Further Information: www.freedoniagroup.com

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Bioplastics

news Industrial Biotechnology holds great potential for UK economy, says environmentalist Industrial Biotechnology (IB) has the potential to become a major factor in the UK economy over the coming years, according to prominent environmentalist, Jonathon Porritt.

In the ‘Industrial Biotechnology Done Well’ report, put out by environmental group Forum for the Future, Porritt argues that IB has a potential for "huge" growth.

Quoting work carried out by the UK government's Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and Growth Team, he claims that by 2025 IB could be contributing £150 — 360bn to the world economy, £4 — 12bn of which could be based in the UK. “At its simplest, IB is all about transforming biomass into bio-based products — in sectors as diverse as chemicals, food, textiles, fuels, detergents, pulp and paper,” explained Porritt. "That biomass can come from agricultural crops,

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other plants and grasses, agricultural and forestry residues, other sources of organic waste, and, last but not least, from algae and other marine sources."

“When people talk about the 'green economy', they usually limit themselves to energy efficiency, renewable energy and waste management,” says Porritt. “But industrial biotechnology could have an equally dramatic impact, if it’s done well.

“IB is a young industry and there are still barriers to meeting its full potential, but a big part of overcoming those barriers is to ensure that IB, in all its many manifestations, meets the highest possible sustainability standards.”

If the UK is to embrace IB, argues Porritt, the government needs to establish a framework supporting the technology as a whole, rather than simply focusing on the area in which it is most obvious, namely biofuels. He adds that there is “a rather painful contrast” between the approaches of the EU and the US government, which he says strongly supports both biofuels and IB. Overall, the US spends nearly ten times as much on IB R&D as the EU.

Industrial Biotechnology (IB) has the potential to become a major factor in the UK economy over the coming years, according to Jonathon Porritt

“Industrial biotechnology already plays an important part in the UK economy, and the potential for the future is enormous,” continued Porrit. “We are investing in growth and are poised to deploy IB on a much more significant scale.

“This is exactly the right time to establish a set of sustainability principles to help guide companies — ensuring a win both for the UK economy and for a more sustainable, low-carbon future.”

Further Information: www.uk-cpi.com

New bioplastic grade containing over 50 percent algae unveiled Cereplast has recently announced the availability of a new bioplastic resin for injection moulders manufactured with 51 percent post-industrial algae biomass.

The new Biopropylene A150D resin grade, which will soon be available commercially, is said to be the first offering to contain this level of algae.

injection moulding machines. Cereplast says Biopropylene A150D is ideally recommended for thin wall injection moulding applications.

“The introduction of our newest grade, Biopropylene A150D, is significant due to the high percentage of algae biomass content; the greater the algae content, the lower the carbon footprint of the final product,” continued Scheer.

“This is an important achievement as

our subsidiary, Algaeplast, works toward the goal of manufacturing polymers made from 100 percent algae content.

We believe Algaeplast can reach this next frontier within the next three years. Algae will allow us to serve a large market of highly engineered polymers at very competitive pricing.”

Bioplastics

news

Further Information: www.cereplast.com

The new grade contains over 50 percent algae

Cereplast says the biomass content dramatically reduces the carbon footprint of the final product, while reducing the petroleum-based plastic content.

“Our technology is at the forefront of the algae bioplastics market," commented Frederic Scheer, Chairman and CEO of Cereplast. "We consider this new grade to be an important milestone in our quest for new polymers. Our R&D and manufacturing team has done tremendous work and we are excited about the potential outcome.”

Biopropylene A150D reportedly has low-to-no odour due to the discovery of a post-industrial process that significantly reduces the distinctive smell that is inherent to algae biomass. Cereplast says the colour of the material is medium to dark green and can be coloured to dark brown, black or a darker green for colour consistency. A matte or shiny surface can be accomplished based upon mould surface and process conditions and the new grade can be processed on existing conventional electric and hydraulic reciprocating screw

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Bioplastics

news Bioplastics pose no threat to food supply, according to new research European Bioplastics has revealed that the surface required to grow sufficient feedstock for today’s bioplastic production is less than 0.006 percent of the global agricultural area of 5 billion hectares and is therefore “no competition to food and feed”.

This is the key finding published by the association, based on figures from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and calculations of the Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites (IfBB, University Hannover, Germany).

European Bioplastics says that in a world of fast-growing population with an increasing demand for food and feed, the use of feedstock for non-food purposes is often debated controversially. The association says its new document, ‘Bioplastics - facts and figures’, moves the discussion on to a factual level.

The document finds that of the 13.4 billion hectares of global land surface, around 37 percent (5 billion hectares) are currently used for agriculture. This includes pastures (70 percent, approximately 3.5 billion hectares) and arable land (30 percent, approximately 1.4 billion hectares).

These 30 percent of arable land are further divided into areas predominantly used to grow crops for food and feed (27 percent, approximately 1.29 billion hectares), as well as crops for materials (two percent, approximately 100 million hectares, including the share used for bioplastics) and crops for biofuels (one percent, approximately 55 million hectares).

European Bioplastics market data depicts production capacities of around 1.2 million tonnes in 2011. This translates to approximately 300,000 hectares of land-use to grow feedstock for bioplastics. In relation to the global agricultural area of five billion hectares, bioplastics make use of only 0.006 percent.

This ratio correlates to “the size of an average cherry tomato placed next to the Eiffel Tower,” says the association.

It says that this data makes it “abundantly clear” that this 0.006 percent used to grow feedstock for bioplastics makes it “nowhere near” being in competition with the 98 percent used for pastures and to grow food and feed.

According to European Bioplastics, increasing the efficiency of feedstock and agricultural technology will be key to assuring the balance between land-use for innovative bioplastics and land for food and feed. It says the emergence of reliable and independent sustainability assessment schemes will also contribute to this goal.

Graph showing global land-use

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Further Information: www.european-bioplastics.org

Bioplastics

news Biome puts the spotlight on next generation bioplastics Biome Bioplastics, a UK developer of intelligent, natural plastics, says it is undertaking research and development activities to tackle the intrinsic synthesis of bioplastics that currently keeps costs high and limits performance.

In a pioneering project, Biome is conducting research into a new source of organic chemicals for the manufacture of bioplastics that it says could signficantly reduce costs and increase performance.

Backed by a grant from the Technology Strategy Board and working in partnership with the University of Warwick’s Centre for Biotechnology and Biorefining, the project will investigate the possibility of using lignin as an alternative, bio-based source of chemicals.

“The environmental and social concerns surrounding the use of fossil fuels and food crops make lignin a compelling target,” explained Professor Tim Bugg, Director of the Centre.

“Often considered a waste product, it may provide a sustainable source of building blocks for aromatic chemicals that can be used in bioplastics.”

Biome is working with the Warwick team to develop methods to control the lignin breakdown process to determine whether these chemicals can be extracted in significant quantities. The initial feasibility project will replace the oil-derived equivalent currently used in a polyester that conveys strength and flexibility in some of Biome’s products.

Building on this work, Biome says it will explore the possibilities for deriving a wide selection of bio-based aromatic chemicals from lignin as the foundation for the next generation of bioplastics.

“This work will be fundamental in moving the performance and cost balance away from conventional oilderived polymers and has the potential to position Biome Bioplastics at the very forefront of the market for intelligent, natural plastics,” commented Biome Bioplastics’ CEO, Paul Mines.

Further Information: www.biomebioplastics.co.uk

Biome is conducting research into a new source of organic chemicals for the manufacture of bioplastics

Advanced technology makes the difference SWISS MADE

Motan Colortronic Limited Tel: 01246 260222 Email: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk Web: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

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// Materials Technical //

Blog This month, in the second instalment of our new materials technical blog, polymer expert, Dr Charlie Geddes, considers the heat resistance of thermoplastics..

What do we mean by the heat resistance of thermoplastics?

In some applications heat resistance can mean the materialâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to carry out its intended function at elevated temperatures for short periods. For others it may imply surviving high temperatures for long periods or coping with very high temperatures for short periods during processing.

For short-term exposure, the main concern is often the softening as the thermoplastic approaches its glass transition temperature (in the case of amorphous thermoplastics) or its melt transition temperature (for semi-crystalline thermoplastics). Material datasheets will provide data on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Deflection Temperature Under Loadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; but designers are reminded that this applies to a narrow test, involving specific loads, geometry, heating rates and acceptable deflection, which may or may not coincide with the service conditions and criteria for failure. At least the test does give data for two levels of loading.

For long term ageing, designers should be aware that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Continuous Use Temperatureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; usually refers to the temperature at which the mechanical properties decrease by 50 percent after a period of 5000 or

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Got a view on the above? Blog posts will also be published on the BP&R website at www.britishplastics.co.uk - feel free to leave your comments.

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Multi-wall PC sheet makes its sporting debut SABIC’s Innovative Plastics business has revealed the first application of its Lexan Thermoclear polycarbonate (PC) multi-wall sheet is in a sports stadium, the new Arena do Grêmio, a multi-use, 60,000-seat stadium in Porto Alegre, Brazil where the custom-coloured 10mm material is used for the roofing.

The sheet was reportedly chosen for its light weight, toughness and impact

resistance versus glass and was supplied in a custom blue tone to match the Grêmio team brand.

SABIC says the light colour and highly reflective surface of the sheet helps to minimise the effects of heat and therefore reduces the need for cooling systems.

Further Information: www.sabic-ip.com

Brazil’s Arena do Grêmio Sport stadium featuring SABIC’s Lexan Thermoclear PC sheet roofing

Engineering Materials

news

British invention to help clear-up Fukushima

The Radball will be used to the clear-up operation at the Fukushima nuclear reactor

An award-winning invention by British chemical engineer, Dr Steven Stanley, will soon be used to help the clear-up operation at the Fukushima nuclear reactor in Japan.

The RadBall is around the size of an orange and has a radiation-sensitive polymer material that becomes permanently opaque when exposed to radiation. The device helps to identify radioactive contamination in confined spaces and produces a 3D image that can reportedly be used to target the clean-up operation at Fukushima.

It is said the RadBall, which requires no power, will help prevent workers at Fukushima from having to scan the site with handheld detectors and reduce the risk of exposure to radiation. It also avoids other expensive equipment from being damaged or contaminated.

Further Information: www.icheme.org

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Injection Moulding

Engineering Passion

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news Ferromatik Milacron demonstrates “cutting edge” medical moulding At the Plastpol exhibition in Poland earlier this month, Ferromatik Milacron demonstrated what it describes as a “cuttingedge medical application” by producing adhesive-free disposable syringes on an Elektron 110 all-electric injection moulding machine.

“Adhesive-free production of disposable syringes is completely new. Today over 95 percent of all cannulas are still made using glue,” said Sven Engelmann, Head of Applications and Systems at Ferromatik Milacron.

The Elektron 110 has a clamping force of 1,100 kN and is equipped with an international size 120 injection unit featuring an 18mm diameter three-zone screw. Zahoransky, based in Freiburg, Germany, supplied the mould and an automated system that allows the insertion of needles into the mould for the efficient production of disposable syringes. The needles, which are attached without the use of an adhesive, are placed in the mould, where they are encapsulated with COP plastic (Cyclo-Olefin-Copolymer).

Parallel with the placement of the needles in one half of the mould, finished syringes are removed from the other half.

Ferromatik Milacron says this allows for a significantly reduced cycle time with four syringes produced every twenty seconds.

The Elektron 110

Disposable syringes produced on the Elektron 110

Further Information: www.ferromatik.com

UK injection moulder benefits from grant Tyseley-based plastic injection moulder, Andel Plastics Ltd, has received a grant through Birmingham City Council which it says will help it to improve sales over Andel Plastics has received a grant the next 12 months through Birmingham City and beyond.

“The grant is a substantial part of our business plans and without it, we wouldn’t have been able to pursue our current marketing activities,” commented Andel Plastics’ Director, Helen Pitt.

“It has already proven to be a success for us as we have gained new orders almost immediately as a result of attending a prestigious trade show. Above that, it has really given us a financial boost and we will now be able to take on new machine operators and an apprentice.”

The grant was made possible after Helen Pitt and Co-Director, Graham Robinson, contacted the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce who assisted them to make the application for funding.

The Business Development Programme, administered by Birmingham City Council, provides tangible support for businesses wanting to expand. One such example is Andel Plastics who are manufacturing, developing their brand and most importantly attempting to create jobs and prosperity for the area.

Further Information: www.andelplastics.co.uk

Injection Moulding

www.kraussmaffei.com

news Power-saving pump control system cuts moulding energy bills A UK water meter manufacturer says it is accruing sizeable energy savings, approximately £2600 per machine, after upgrading 15 of its injection moulding machines to incorporate Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s active Control systems.

Elster is one of the world’s largest electricity, gas and water measurement and control providers and moulds all the internal components for its water meters on hydraulic and electric injection moulding systems from Sumitomo (SHI) Demag.

Some of the hydraulic machines on-site at Elster are nearly 20 years old, but are vital to the company’s operation as they perform to tolerances that could not be matched by electric machines, according to Clint Sharp, Engineering Manager at Elster Metering. “With these components we cannot take the risk of movement and subsequent shrinkage post-recovery, so we have to maintain strict moulding pressure

tolerances,” he explained. “In some cases floor flatness has to be within seven micron.

To achieve these tolerances we need machines with very long cycle times.”

However, with energy prices climbing year on year, Elster says it was feeling the impact of the higher energy consumption of its hydraulic machine base.

Sumitomo (SHI) Demag says it developed a retrofit package called activeControl to help its customers reduce energy bills for their hydraulic machines. This is said to optimise energy consumption during idle periods in the cycle using ‘activeEnergy Saving’ to reduce consumption by up to 80 percent.

“The cooling phase of the cycle is when traditionally, the pump would be running but not actually doing anything,” explained Ian Ramsay, After Sales Manager at Sumitomo (SHI) Demag. “Essentially, activeControl involves installing an inverter to control the frequency of the pump motor so that during idle periods, instead of running at full power, the pump motor is ramped right down to25Hz.” Elster Metering bought the activeControl package for one of its hydraulic machines

MG Stuma makes 1.7m investment in UK facilities Plastics specialist, MG Stuma, has unveiled its new branding and relocation plan as part of a £1.7m investment for growth.

The company has acquired two new sites in Blackburn with Darwen and will now trade as MGS Technical Plastics Ltd (MGSTP) and MGS Medical Plastics Ltd (MGSMP).

The company says the sites allow it to house separate and specialised medical and technical manufacturing facilities, as well as improving logistics and ease of access.

John Sturgess, Director, said: “We've always had the latest injection moulding machinery, but the old mill we operated from had some logistical challenges - not least of all because we worked across three floors.

“Our new homes allow us to focus on what each department does best, with room for growth in the future. We see the medical side of our business especially as having great potential and now we are better prepared to capitalise on that.”

MGS Medical Plastics moulds medical filtration products and disposable medical devices. The medical facility is a brand new, purpose-built site covering 1,000sq. m., of which 250sq. m. is a Class 8 clean room that cost £90,000. It will allow full medical moulding assembly and packing through six injection moulding machines, and also means that MGSMP can now work towards its ISO 13485 accreditation.

MGS Technical Plastics has moved into a 2,000sq. m. factory. It will house 15 injection moulding machines, which will be used to mould a wide variety of products ranging in size from one gramme up to 3700 grammes. Typical sectors that MGSTP currently works with include hygiene, leisure and sports, health and safety and lighting.

Sturgess continued: “We are delighted with our two new acquisitions, especially as they are not too far from our previous home in Bolton.

Case Study:

Elster saved approximately £2600 in energy costs per machine by retrofitting activeControl

and says it yielded cost savings of 37 percent, which equates to around £2600 a year. The company now has 15 machines, ranging in capacity from 25 up to 150 tonnes, operating with active Control.

“Everything we purchase has to pay back within two years,” continued Sharp.

“This was a big project for us and it has paid for itself within two years in the energy savings we have made.”

Further Information: uk.sumitomo-shi-demag.eu

The new building

“The move gives us great cause for optimism and we are excited about the future.”

Funding for the expansion plan was sourced by RBS throughout the Regional Growth Fund. MG Stuma currently employs around 70 people and was previously based in Bolton.

41 Further Information: www.plasticinjectionmoulding.co.uk

bp&r

The glass is half full for UK manufacturers This month, PMMDA Chairman, Nigel Flowers, writes exclusively for BP&R on the latest figures published on the economy and why the UK plastics industry has reason to be optimistic about the future.

The good news is that the UK avoided a triple dip recession, reporting 0.3 percent growth in GDP for Q1/2013. There was some more good news recently with the ONS reporting that industrial output grew by 0.7 percent in April and, more importantly, manufacturing grew by 1.1 percent when compared to March, both ahead of the forecast.

If we turn to our European colleagues and focus on the Euromap production

figures for moulding machines, we see that the machines manufactured show a modest increase with 2215 machines produced in Q1/2013 against 2017 in Q4/2012.

Although good news for machine growth, it is clear from the GDP data that the European, and therefore UK markets, are still extremely fragile. Confidence can be quickly shaken by almost any event, from Cypriot investors taking a haircut to a change in football manager at a wellknown Manchester team!

But this is all looking back, and statistics are one thing, but what does the future hold for the UK plastics industry? I have spent the last few weeks talking to various members of the PMMDA and

other trade associations, and while it would be fair to say that confidence is not over flowing, there is an optimistic outlook to members’ businesses. Many members are reporting an increased level of activity, enquiry rates are on the increase and end users are reporting that access to finance is slowly improving.

So in conclusion, while there are still significant headwinds to the UK plastics industry, there is significant cause for optimism. further information: www.pmmda.org.uk

Dunlop Oil & Marine UK Launches Large Bore LNG Composite Hose This month’s update from RAPRA looks at how the association is using its network of suppliers in the field of cryogenics to assist a UK company in developing a composite hose for the transfer of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Dr Mutaz Bashir, Product Design Engineer-LNG at Dunlop Oil & Marine UK, the company behind the project, explains more.

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Dunlop Oil & Marine UK is a member of the Continental ContiTech Group – which specialises in rubber and plastics technology. The company, which has sites in Grimsby, Ashington and Aberdeen, is currently developing its large bore Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) flexible composite hose. The design specifications for this composite hose are tailored to accommodate for the extremely demanding onshore and offshore LNG transfer requirements.

The key design specifications for the LNG composite hose are large internal bore of 400 mm; high flow rate of 6,000 m3/hour; high internal pressure of 20 bar; high flexibility down to -196˚C and high flexural strength down to -196˚C. The decision of Dunlop Oil and Marine

Ltd to step into the LNG transfer market, in addition to its existing extensive hose products range for onshore and offshore applications, is in response to the rapid growth of the LNG industry following the substantial increase in demands for LNG supplies over the last two decades.

Demands on LNG supplies have been steadily increasing since 1995 by about seven percent per annum and it is anticipated to maintain this trend for the next few decades. The LNG industry, therefore, has been rapidly maturing from onshore to offshore-based operations in order to be able to cope with these demands.

LNG transfer operations are in the heart of shipping LNG from offshore plants to import terminals. LNG composite hose technologies have provided robust transfer solutions over the years. These technologies are able to offer excellent thermal insulation, excellent LNG containment, high flexibility and high strength properties that are critical for safe LNG transfer operations. These properties are, however, often challenged when there is a requirement to scale up these composite hoses to large bore sizes greater than about 300mm. The requirement for large-bore LNG hoses is to

Dunlop Oil & Marine UK is deve loping its large bore Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) flexible composite hos e

improve the efficiency of LNG transfer operations in order to cope with the increasing production capacities of offshore plants.

Currently, Dunlop Oil and Marine Ltd is undertaking extensive testing programme to demonstrate the outstanding structural and operational capabilities of its LNG composite hose to its customers. In addition it is certifying this LNG composite hose to the BS EN-1474:2 British Standards. Given the difficulties in performing tests under cryogenic conditions, Dunlop Oil and Marine Ltd is keen to express its appreciation to the Rubber and Plastics Research Association (RAPRA) for the support it is continuing to provide in linking Dunlop Oil and Marine Ltd to experienced cryogenic organisations and testing houses. further information: www.rapralimited.org www.dunlop-oil-marine.co.uk

software directory manufacturing management directory ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING Solarsoft Mattec Real-time MES (Microsoft Windows™ PC Servers & “Web Based”) Solarsoft Business Systems MEI Division (Europe) T: +44 (0)1909 479 886 E: andy.jewell@solarsoft.com Modules: Production Monitoring, “Drag and Drop”, Scheduling/Planning, “Family Moulding”, Preventative Maintenance, Bar Coding/Parts, Trace-ability, Operator Visual Aids, Process Parameter Profiling, Email/Tannoy Alerts, Stand-alone, “Drag and Drop” Scheduler, Standalone, SPC “Machine Analyzer”, Machine Energy, Monitoring, KPI Dash-boards, Visual Manufacturing (Large LED/LCD Displays), Automatic Data Import/Export Functions (for Integration to Manufacturing Systems &Other Software Packages).

Solarsoft iVP ERP SAAS Manufacturing Software (for Plastics’ Processors) Solarsoft Business Systems T: +44 (0)1909 479 886 E: andy.jewell@solarsoft.com Solarsoft’s iVP ERP (SAAS) software for the plastics’ converting industry covers the full range of back office operations from on-line and off-line sales and quotations to production planning, inventory management and finance through to logistics, ware-housing and distribution. It seamlessly integrates with Solarsoft-Mattec’s Real-time MES to provide a single system that offers a complete quote-to-cash solution for the plastics’ industry.

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SYSCON-PlantStar MTec Services Ltd T: 0114 2476267 F: 0114 2476267 E: mt@mtec-services.co.uk W: www.mtec-services.co.uk W: www.syscon-intl.com PlantStar systems provide customised, scalable applications that deliver real-time plant floor data from any machine, shift, and plant anywhere in your business.

Affordable systems available for all size of processor.

Browser-based software and hardware, and wireless ethernet technology make for highly versatile and configurable systems providing information wherever needed. Standard systems include real-time alarms, downtime & reject analysis, capacity scheduling, ERP integration and more. With options including SPC/SQC, Labour tracking and Scheduling, Family Tooling, Material traceability, bar-coding.

A listing in the Software Directory costs £140 per programme per year.

Call Lisa on 01244 680222 for details.

Overcome currency volatility to avoid business deflation This month’s view from Smart Currency Many industries have come to a crunch in recent years, brought on by the rise of globalisation and technology, and exacerbated by the financial crisis. Yet the plastics and rubber industries continue to show not just resilience but expansion into innovative new uses.

In the past week alone, there have been media reports on the creation of a life-size Barbie house as a tourist attraction, the creation of prosthetic legs for animal amputees and a giant rubber duck being found deflated in Hong Kong harbour.

Yet, to avoid the same fate as the now defunct yellow duck, manufacturers need to keep tabs on their costs, with currency rates at the heart of this. As well as directly impacting on the repatriation of overseas sales revenues, currency rate fluctuations can play havoc on the cost of raw material purchases.

Leading the way on currency volatility has, of course, been the Euro. And despite this commonly traded currency enjoying a period of relative stability against Sterling in recent weeks, there is almost guaranteed to be more volatility in the near future.

The Eurozone debt crisis has a long way to rumble on yet, with question marks now hanging over Slovenia's economy, Spain's ever-climbing unemployment rate and the uncertainty building ahead of German general election in September. further information: www.smartcurrencybusiness.com/BPR

buyers’ guide

FOR SALE

materials polymer distributors

Reheat Stretch Blow Moulding Machine (PET) Make: Sidel, France Type: SBO 24/24 Year: 1994 - Preform Tipper, Hopper / Elevator, Infeed Rail - Oven & Heating Wheel - Electrical Cabinet (Siemens S5) - Operating manuals

For further details: 01925 596170 – 07838138342 Email: douglastrading@gmail.com

conductive plastics and coatings TBA Electro Conductive Products Ltd Unit 3 Transpennine Trading Estate Gorrells Way, Rochdale, OL11 2PX

43

T: 01706 647718 F: 01706 646170 E: info@tbaecp.co.uk W: www.tbaecp.co.uk

bp&r

buyers’ guide fastenings and fixings

equipment AEROSOLS Units 3E + 3F, Hillam Road Industrial Estate, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD2 1QN T: 01274 731552 F: 01274 738118 E: sales@eclipsecolours.com W: www.eclipsecolours.com

ultrasonic plastics assembly systems Branson Ultrasonics 158 Edinburgh Avenue, Slough, Berkshire SL1 4UE T: 01753 756675 F: 01753 551270 E: bucuk.sales@emerson.com W: www.branson-plasticsjoin.com

ultrasonic welding

Polymer Specific and Universal Colour and Additive Masterbatches. Fastmatch colour matching service.

1 mm Easysperse MicroPellets to 4 mm MaxiPellets.

Standards second to none.

InControl Ultrasonics Ltd (FFR Ultrasonics Ltd) The Swan Centre, 8A Swan Street, Sileby, Leicestershire LE12 7NW T: 01509 816507 E: enquiries@ffr-ultrasonics. co.uk W: www.ffr-ultrasonics.co.uk

For Temperature Control Rental turn to the experts

masterbatch ancillary

• FLUID CHILLERS • BOILERS • AIR CONDITIONING • HEATING • DRY COOLERS/ FREE COOLING

0800 026 4717 Rental Systems Telsonic UK Ltd 12a - 15 Birch Copse, Technology Road, Poole, Dorset BH17 7FH T: 01202 697340 F: 01202 693674 E: sales@uk.telsonic.com W: www.telsonic.co.uk Blog:wwwtelsonicuk.wordpress.com

vibration welding Branson Ultrasonics 158 Edinburgh Avenue, Slough, Berkshire SL1 4UE T: 01753 756675 F: 01753 551270 E: bucuk.sales@emerson.com W: www.branson-plasticsjoin.com

Dosing equipment mould release

Cannon Shelley UK agents for Belotti 5 axis CNC machines T: 01480 453651 F: 01480 52113 E: sales@cannon-shelley.co.uk W: www.cannonforma.com W: www.belotti.com W: www.shelley.biz

assembly FLEXIBLE POLYMERS RIGID POLYMERS ADDITIVES PURGING SOLUTIONS C.J.P. Sales Ltd, 8 Heol West Plas, Litchard, Bridgend CF31 1PA

Tel: 01656 644907 Fax: 01656 662 397 Email: sales@cjpsales.co.uk Web: www.cjpsales.co.uk colour masterbatch

hot plate welding Branson Ultrasonics 158 Edinburgh Avenue, Slough, Berkshire SL1 4UE T: 01753 756675 F: 01753 551270 E: bucuk.sales@emerson.com W: www.branson-plasticsjoin.com Machine Techniques Ltd Units 3-5, Sutton Court, Bath Street, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9EW T: 01858 434059 F: 01858 433638 E: davidchatterton@ymail.com W: www.mactec.co.uk

pulse staking H.T.E Engineering Services Ltd Unit 9, St Ives Enterprise Centre, St Ives, Huntingdon Cambridgeshire, UK, PE27 3NP T: +44 (0) 1480 467321 M: +44 (0) 7435 967632 E: john@hte.ie W: www.pulsestaker.com

spin welding

44 bp&r

CNC ASSEMBLY MACHINES

Branson Ultrasonics 158 Edinburgh Avenue, Slough, Berkshire SL1 4UE T: 01753 756675 F: 01753 551270 E: bucuk.sales@emerson.com W: www.branson-plasticsjoin.com

control systems and equipment quality monitoring control Kistler Instruments Ltd

chillers/temperature controllers Motan Colortronic Ltd Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

thermocouples Elmatic (Cardiff) Ltd Wentloog Road, Rumney, Cardiff CF3 1XH T: 029 20 778727 F: 029 20 792297 E: sales@elmatic.co.uk W: www.elmatic.co.uk

T: 01256 741550 F: 01256 741551 E: sales.uk@kistler.com W: www.kistler.com Pressure transducers and associated monitoring/control equipment for new and existing injection moulding applications.

extrusion systems

Motan Colortronic Ltd Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

hot runner systems hot runner controllers

PLASTICOLOR B A Thorne (Machinery) Ltd 19A Imex Business Centre, Oxleasow Road, East Moons Moat, Redditch, Worcestershire B98 0RE T: 01527 584714 F: 01527 584784 E: bat@bathorne.co.uk W: www.bathorne .co.uk

GATE CUTTERS

hopper dryers

printing machines

co-extrusion die heads and systems

pad

Ridgeway Co-Extrusion Technology Ltd Unit 22, W & G Estate, Challow, nr Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 9TF T: 01235 760435 F: 01235 763021 E: frankh@ridgewaycoex.co.uk W: www.ridgewaycoex.co.uk Optimised monolayer die heads, coating die heads up to 4 layers, multi-layer die heads up to 7 layers, for pipe/tube sizes from 1 mm O/D up to 200 mm O/D; multiple tube die heads for mono and multi-layer products; multi-layer, multi-parison blow moulding die heads up to 7 layers; multi-layer sheet and profile dies up to 5 layers. R & D and product development projects; line conversions; turnkey system installations.

infra red systems

hopper loaders

heating equipment

Motan Colortronic Ltd Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

screws and barrels

extruders and downstream equipment

Injection Moulding

Cooper Plastics Machinery Unit 12, Harmill Industrial Estate, Grovebury Road, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire LU7 4FF T: 01525 850610 F: 01525 218008 E: cooperplastics@googlemail.com W: www.cooperplastics.co.uk Extruders, extrusion tooling, water baths, haul-offs, fly knife cutters, conveyors/tip tables, in-line punches, coilers etc. New and used. Repairs, servicing or rebuilds.

UK agent for Lyons Electronics.

mixing, feeding, drying Motan Colortronic Ltd

granulators

LABORATORY machines

Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

metal detection & separation equipment Motan Colortronic Ltd Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

induction heating for platens and tools MF Induction Heating

ZERMA SHREDDERS & GRANULATORS Wide range covering all plastics size

reduction applications.

Specialist knowledge of different

Unit 5, Martindale, Hawks Green, Cannock, Staffs WS11 7XN Replacement Coils New platens T: 01543 570642 F: 01543 574460 E: sales@mfinduction.com W: www.mfinduction.com BS EN ISO9001: 2000 registered.

BS EN ISO9001:2008

material properties affecting size reduction.

Extensive options for SIZE,

THROUGHPUT,INFEED AND DISCHARGE

dryers/dehumidifiers

A leading manufacturer with more than

70 years experience.

E info@summitsystems.co.uk W www.summitsystems.co.uk T 01827 265 800

Motan Colortronic Ltd Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

nozzles & nozzle tips

materials handling and storage gravimetric/volumetric blending Motan Colortronic Ltd Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

45 bp&r

buyers’ guide WANTED

static control

printers printers of plastic mouldings

Arrowquint Ltd Unit 5 Sanders Close, Finedon Road Industrial Estate, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN8 4HQ T: 08450 655455 F: 08450 655456 E: sales@arrowquint.co.uk W: www.arrowquint.co.uk Static control solutions, equipment sales and rental, repairs and on-site servicing.

UK/Eire agent for Eltex – market leaders in static control systems.

WANTED PLASTIC SCRAP We are looking to purchase LDPE post production scrap.

Can take over 100 Tonne a week.

TAMPO.SCREEN.FOIL Contour Marking Co Ltd Albert house, Gledrid Industrial Park, Chirk ,Wrexham, LL14 5DG T: 01691 770093 F: 01691 770023 Sub Contract Tampo, Screen & Foil Printing to the plastic moulding industry E: sales@contourmarking.com W: www.contourmarking.com

Payment terms: COD

testing equipment WATER FITTINGS

T: 0121 328 5222 F: 0121 328 3555 E: sales@bsplastics.co.uk

injection moulding

pad Total Print Ltd Specialist Pad Printers Station Road, Gedney Hill, Lincolnshire PE12 0NP T: 01406 330122 F: 01406 330123 E: info@totalprintltd.com W: www.totalprintltd.com

testing/consultancy

screen changers Industrial Plastics Ltd Unit 13 Canterbury Industrial Park, 297 Ilderton Road, London, SE15 1NP T: 020 7252 9600 F: 020 7252 9601 E: sales@ipl-london.co.uk W: www.ipl-london.co.uk

secondhand and reconditioned ANGLO PLASTICS LTD Buy/Sell Used Plastics Machinery Rutland Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 1HX T: +44 (0) 1276 470910 T: +44 (0) 7740 632907 E: information@ angloplastics.com W: www.angloplastics.com DM Machinery Ltd Used Injection Moulding Machine Stockists 40 Thorne Lane, Wakefield West Yorkshire, WF1 5RR T: 01924 290206 E: sales@dmmachinery.co.uk W: www.dmmachinery.co.uk

DTL Machines We Buy / Sell all Makes, Age and Sizes of Injection Moulding Machines & Ancillaries Tool room machines and also complete factories / plants Factory Clearance Services Dismantling / Removal of obsolete plant and machinery T: 01925 596170 M: 07838138342 E: douglastrading@gmail.com Plasplant Ltd Unit 4, Oakhanger Farm, Oakhanger, Bordon, Hants GU35 9JA T: 01420 473013 F: 01420 475152 E: plasplant@aol.com W: www.plasplant.com Rawmec (EEC) Ltd Rawmec Industrial Park, Plumpton Road, Hoddesdon, Herts EN11 0EE T: 01992 471796 F: 01992 471797 E: rawmec@btconnect.com W: www.rawmec.com

46 bp&r

TransXL International Ltd Thornhill, South Marston, Wiltshire SN3 4TA T: 01793 827666 F: 01793 823826 E: sales@transxl.co.uk W: www.transxl.co.uk

Ray Ran Test Equipment Ltd Kelsey Close, Attleborough Fields Industrial Estate, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV11 6RS T: 024 763 42002 F: 024 766 41670 E: Polytest@ray-ran.com W: www.ray-ran.com

hardness - IRHD and shore MAPRA Technik Co — BAREISS Unit D13 The Seedbed Centre, Langston Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 3TQ T: 020 8508 4207 F: 020 8502 5107 E: info@mapra.co.uk W: www.mapra.co.uk

World leader in Materials Testing Instrumentation Tensile|Fatigue| Impact Compression|Melt Flow Coronation Road, High Wycombe, Bucks HP12 3SY, UK Tel: +44 1494 464646

www.instron.com inspection & measurement MAPRA Technik Co – MARCEL AUBERT – DOSS – KAFER Unit D13 The Seedbed Centre, Langston Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 3TQ T: 020 8508 4207 F: 020 8502 5107 E: info@mapra.co.uk W: www.mapra.co.uk

thermoforming equipment Cannon Shelley Sales and service for thermoforming equipment T: 01480 453651 F: 01480 52113 E: sales@cannon-shelley.co.uk W: www.cannonforma.com W: www.shelley.biz

services ACQUISITION EXTRUSION FLOW ANAYLYSIS Injection Moulding Business Wanted T/O between £100,000 and £1.5million.

Contact in the strictest confidence, Joe Reeve, Data Plastics Ltd Email joe.reeve@dataplastics.co.uk Phone 01993 700777

Fleming Polymer Testing & Consultancy Unit 326, Hartlebury Trading Estate, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY10 4JB T: 01299 253300 E: enquiries@flemingptc.co.uk W: www.flemingptc.co.uk Compuplast bureau service & distributor

Fleming Polymer Testing & Consultancy, Unit 326 Hartlebury Trading Estate, Kidderminster, Worcs, DY10 4JB T: 01299 253300 E: enquiries@flemingptc.co.uk W: www.flemingptc.co.uk An independent ISO9001 accredited laboratory specilising in Rheometry, TGA, DSC, MFR/MVR, Pilot-scale blown film line, flow simulation, Consultancy.

Gammadot Rheology Testing & Consultancy Services Unit 5C, Leaton Industrial Estate, Bomere Heath, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 3AP T: 01939 291677 E: enquiries@gammadot.com W: www.gammadot.com Providing independant testing solutions to all your quality control, failure analysis & flow simulation data needs

Contract cleaning Injection Moulding Extrusion

mouldflow analysis

• • • • • •

Hot Runners Nozzles Moulds Dies Filters Screws Cleaning service for processors Remove all polymers Tel:- +44 121 511 1203 Fax:- +44 121 511 1192 Email:- LesH@claytonholdings.com Web:- www.claytonholdings.com

tool making parts & services

mouldmaking